THE ECONOMIC PROTEST 203 



they had neglected the business aspect of their 

 vocation. They were determined to devise ways 

 and means to exercise larger control over the pro- 

 ducts of their farms until they had passed into the 

 hands of the consumer. 



The Program of the Cooperatives 



With this idea in mind, the Farm Bureau Federa- 

 tion entered upon an extensive program of education 

 and legislation with reference to a better system of 

 marketing and distributing farm products. The 

 United States Department of Agriculture and the 

 Extension Service organizations in the several states 

 encouraged this movement in every appropriate 

 manner possible. The national and state farm 

 bureau federations assumed leadership in the nation- 

 wide movement to market farm products more 

 profitably. The economic program of the Farm 

 Bureau Federation was outlined in the following 

 comprehensive pronouncements : 



"1. To extend cooperative marketing of farm 

 crops to the point in the distribution system that 

 the maximum benefits are secured for the producer, 

 and, incidentally, for the consumer. 



"2. To limit the profits and reduce the costs of 

 distribution in all lines not handled cooperatively. 



"3. To so estimate the effective world supply of 

 any farm product and to so regulate the flow to 



